A grand celebration planned for the Cy Hall Memorial Museum

After almost 20 years of dedicated work, directors of the Cy Hall Memorial Museum are ready for a grand opening celebration mixer Friday, July 9, at 5:30 p.m., with a special recognition program at 6:30 p.m.

The museum is located on the corner of Main and Mill streets, in the building many old-timers will remember as Miller’s warehouse.

The old bat and board siding as been restored, and major improvements have been made to most of the 141-year-old structure, though mostly by refurbishing and reusing either what was already there, or salvaged lovingly from other historical buildings in town.

Greenville residents Brad Smith and Mavis Somers have done a lot of that woodwork, and they have covered over timeworn blemishes in some rather creative ways.

If one looks closely a the main entry doors, the first thing to notice will be the burnish in the restored, ancient wood, and then, if unable to resist caressing that wood, one will find where old square nails have been used to plug old screw and nail holes.

It would have been easier to fill the holes with putty, colored to match the wood, but not nearly as interesting.

The brass light fixture hanging over the front counter, for example, was once hanging in Miller’s Hardware Store, which is now Village Drug Company.

A photograph of that light fixture in its original location at the hardware store is now hanging above the produce section at Evergreen Market.

Many local families will find ties to this museum, either in the construction materials or the photographs and artifacts directors were able to prepare in time for the celebration.

There is still much work to do before the museum will actually be open to the public for a set schedule of days and hours. Directors hope many people will become members, as well as volunteer labor and sign up as docents.

The Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce is co-hosting the celebration.

Museum directors will provide pork loin medallions; others are asked to bring a finger food of some sort — nothing that will require utensils.

Partygoers are asked to call ahead to 284-6633 so directors know approximately how many medallions they should have on hand.

Directors hope to have the museum open to the public during the Gold Digger Days street fair, when they will share local history and happily recruit new members.

The museum is not federally funded, so donations and volunteers are what will keep it open in the future.

The restoration was made possible through a Proposition 40 recreation grant and lots of dedicated volunteers.